Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are, unsurprisingly, two of the most tenured World Cup players of all time.
With 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico surely to be the last chance for either to play any further World Cup games, it remains to be seen if Messi (39 years old by World Cup start) and Ronaldo (41 years old by World Cup start) are involved.
So, who has appeared at the most World Cups so far among male players? And who has played in the most World Cup games?
Here's where things stand, as at the end of Qatar 2022.
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Has Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo played in more World Cup games?
Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have played in the same amount of World Cup tournaments.
The two superstars both made their World Cup debuts in 2006, and therefore have played in five World Cup tournaments.
At the time, Messi was 19 years old and Ronaldo was 21.
Six men have played at five different World Cup tournaments: Messi, Ronaldo, German legend Lothar Matthaus, and Mexican trio Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado and Rafael Marquez.
Guardado, 38, ended his chance to appear in a sixth tournament alongside Ronaldo and Messi when he retired in the summer of 2025. Marquez could attend in his current role as Mexico's assistant coach, but his playing days ended after Russia 2018.
Goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and Guillermo Ochoa have also featured at five different tournaments, but the Italian only played at four of them and the Mexican at just three.
Lionel Messi World Cup appearances
Lionel Messi has appeared in 26 World Cup matches across five tournaments, the most of any player in history.
He has reached the final twice, winning the tournament once in 2022.
Messi has started every single World Cup match for Argentina since the start of the 2010 tournament. The only edition he did not was in 2006, when he made three appearances, two off the bench, and was an unused substitute twice.
| Year | Host | Appearances | Stage Reached |
| 2006 | Germany | 3 | Quarterfinals |
| 2010 | South Africa | 5 | Quarterfinals |
| 2014 | Brazil | 7 | Final |
| 2018 | Russia | 4 | Round of 16 |
| 2022 | Qatar | 7 | Won Final |
Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup appearances
Cristiano Ronaldo has appeared in 22 World Cup matches across five tournaments, the fifth-most of any player in history.
He has reached the semifinal once, but has never made it to the final.
Like Messi, Messi has started every single World Cup match for Portugal since the start of the 2010 tournament. The only edition he did not was in 2006, when he made five appearances, one off the bench, and was an unused substitute once.
| Year | Host | Appearances | Stage Reached |
| 2006 | Germany | 5 | Semifinals |
| 2010 | South Africa | 4 | Round of 16 |
| 2014 | Brazil | 3 | Group stage |
| 2018 | Russia | 4 | Round of 16 |
| 2022 | Qatar | 5 | Quarterfinals |
Who has played in the most World Cups games?
Lionel Messi has played in the most World Cup games of any player in history, appearing in 26 matches.
That is one more than German star Lothar Matthaus, who appeared in 25 matches across five World Cup tournaments.
Another German legend, Miroslav Klose, is third on the list with 24 games played. Klose is also the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals, one more than Brazilian star Ronaldo.
Most World Cup appearances all time
Messi holds the all-time men's FIFA World Cup games record, while Ronaldo is the closest active player who can catch him, four games behind.
Male players with most FIFA World Cup appearances
*Bold denotes active player
| Player | Games | Years |
| Lionel Messi (ARG) | 26 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
| Lothar Matthaus (GER) | 25 | 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 |
| Miroslav Klose (GER) | 24 | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
| Paolo Maldini (ITA) | 23 | 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) | 22 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
At the 2026 tournament, there will be a maximum of eight games for any players whose country reaches the final, assuming they feature in each match.
This is one more than the previous maximum of seven per tournament in a 32-team field, thanks to the expansion to 48 teams and addition of a Round of 32.
Regardless of Messi's 2026 return, Ronaldo can at the very least leap to second on the list if Portugal participate, call a 41-year-old Ronaldo up, and play him in all three group games as well as in the Round of 32 should they progress.
MORE: Who holds the record for most Women's World Cup appearances?
Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup stats
Through five World Cup tournaments, Lionel Messi has the much better resume at this particular competition.
The Argentine legend has played more games, scored more goals, racked up more assists, and won a title compared to Ronaldo who has not.
Much of that is down to Messi playing for a much better team, but there are individual accomplishments here as well. For example, Ronaldo has famously not scored a knockout stage goal in his World Cup career across eight attempts.
| Player | Games | Goals | Assists | Minutes | Best finish |
| Lionel Messi | 26 | 13 | 8 | 2,315 | Won title |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 22 | 8 | 2 | 1,764 | Semifinal |
Will Lionel Messi play in 2026 World Cup?
Argentina have confirmed a place at the 2026 World Cup, having only ever missed out on qualifying once in national team history, coming in 1970, while their other three absences were down to withdrawal in the early days of the competition's history.
Messi has often skirted direct answers to questions about his future, even simple ones, but it is largely expected that he will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"I haven't made a decision about the World Cup," Messi said in September 2025. "I'll finish the [club] season, then I'll have preseason, and there will be six months left. So, we'll see how I feel. Hopefully I'll have a good preseason in 2026 and finish this [current] MLS season well, and then I'll decide."
Set to be 39 years old at the start of the tournament, Messi had previously said it was unlikely he would still be in contention to play, but Argentina have prepared for the competition as though he will be involved, and that is the overwhelming expectation at this stage.
MORE: How many trophies has Lionel Messi won in his career?
Will Cristiano Ronaldo play in 2026 World Cup?
If Portugal qualify for the World Cup, which they have yet to officially accomplish, it is widely expected that Cristiano Ronaldo will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo has not confirmed he will participate in the competition, even playing down the importance of the World Cup to his overall legacy, but it's still believed he will be at the tournament if healthy.
"If you ask me, Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup? No, it's not a dream," Ronaldo said to Piers Morgan in a November 2025 interview. "Define what?" The Portugal and Al Nassr captain then in response to if the World Cup would define his career. "To define if I'm one of the best of the history, to win one competition, [of] six games, seven games. You think it's fair?"
Like Argentina with Messi, Ronaldo has been playing regularly for Portugal both in qualifying and other matches in the run-up to the competition. If a superstar such as themselves were not planning on taking part, they would have stepped aside much earlier to allow the national team to prepare for and adapt to life without them on the pitch in such an important competition.